title: EGFR and microvessel density in canine malignant mammary tumours.
abstract: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor which has been shown to have an important role in human breast cancer. Its role appears to be associated with increased angiogenesis and metastasis. In order to clarify its role in canine mammary tumours (CMT), 61 malignant neoplasms were studied by using immunohistochemistry, comparing expression of EGFR, microvessel density (MVD) by CD31 immunolabelling and characteristics of tumour aggressiveness. High EGFR immunoexpression was statistically significantly associated with tumour size, tumour necrosis, mitotic grade, histological grade of malignancy and clinical stage. High CD31 immunoreactivity was statistically significantly associated with tubule formation, histological grade of malignancy and clinical stage. A positive correlation between EGFR and CD31 immunoexpression (r = 0.843; P < 0.001) was also observed. Results suggest that an over-expression of EGFR may contribute to increased angiogenesis and aggression in malignant CMT, presenting the possibility of using EGFR inhibitors in the context of metastatic disease treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Maria João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Justina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prada
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silva-Carvalho
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Felisbina L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Queiroga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D066246:ErbB Receptors
keywords: Angiogenesis; CD31; Canine mammary tumours; EGFR; MVD